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Lightspeed's cloud-based Point of Sale software helps businesses track sales and inventory. It's an omnichannel solution, so customers can place orders online just as easily as they can in person.
Lightspeed is one of the most well-known POS services available today, and for good reason, as it offers a wide range of beneficial features in an easy-to-understand interface layout.
Don't miss out! Claim your free 14-day trial with Lightspeed POS
Lightspeed POS is one of the most comprehensive POS systems on the market. It can be used for retail and hospitality businesses alike, and has a huge range of features to help you succeed. It can track sales through multiple channels, as well as facilitating in-person orders – and, should something go wrong, you get 24/7 support.
With the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic seriously harming the bottom line of many a business, anything that can alleviate the challenges presented this year should be welcomed. Lightspeed POS won't fix everything, but it will certainly provide a pain-free POS system, allowing you to focus your attention on more important areas of your business — and you can now get started for free.
Our review unpacks the main features to expect from Lightspeed POS, before examining the support options to expect and how its price plans work.
We rate Lightspeed our best POS system for complex retail inventories, as well as the best for integrations with restaurant software.
Lightspeed POS Plans and Pricing
Lightspeed offers five pricing plans: Basic, Starter, Standard, Advanced and Pro.
The entry-level Basic tier is aimed at small businesses. It costs $69 per month when billed annually, or $79 when billed monthly, and for that, customers get a retail POS and payments system with a free terminal included. Registers can be added for an extra $29 per month (this is true of all tiers). You'll also have to choose whether your business uses the Lightspeed Payments system to process… erm, payments. Sticking with Lightspeed's own processor will make life easier, but if you choose to switch from Lightspeed at any point, there might be a bit more legwork involved. Lightspeed charges 2.6% + 10¢ for every transaction, which is fairly standard for the industry.
Next up is the Starter plan which, in addition to all the features you get with the Basic plan, gives you the ability to hook up your online store sales to your in-person sales. You'll have to pay $99 per month with annual billing, or $119 with monthly billing.
The Standard plan allows you to integrate a third-party accounting platform into Lightspeed. This should cut down on manual paperwork for you, though you'll have to pay $119 per month or $139 per month, depending on whether you choose annual or monthly billing.
For $169 or $199 per month, you'll get the Advanced tier. This plan adds customer loyalty features, including a rewards program. This means Lightspeed will track your customers' purchases and prompt you to reward your biggest fans with discounts, free gifts, or other nice treats.
The last of Lightspeed's fixed-price plans is the Pro tier. It costs $229 per month with annual billing, or $259 per month with monthly billing. With this plan, you'll be able to access and analyze sales data, which can help you optimize and improve your operation.
There is also an Enterprise tier, which is aimed at large businesses. This is a bespoke package that will be designed around your business, and one that Lightspeed will price up for you on request.
Don't forget that there is a 14-day free trial that you can check out before committing to Lightspeed long term. You can get permanently free POS systems, too, but that isn't always the best idea.
Lightspeed Pricing Plans Comparison
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Price (billed annually)
The relative price-per-month when you choose annual billing
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Price (billed monthly)
How much you'll pay when you choose monthly billing
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Transaction fees |
Features | |
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Basic | Starter | Standard | Advanced | Pro |
$69 | $99 | $119 | $169 | $229 |
$79 | $119 | $139 | $189 | $259 |
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Gives you access to the Lightspeed retail system as well as the company's in-house payment processing. Plus, you get a free terminal! | Gives you the ability to seamlessly sell online with Lightspeed ecommerce, as well as everything from the Basic plan. | Connect your accounting software for seamless and autonomous updating. | Customer loyalty recommendations let you give back to your biggest fans. | Analytics features help you find hidden insights in your sales data to optimize your business. |
Lightspeed Hardware Costs
Lightspeed offers hardware kits for iPads, MacOS devices, and Windows PCs, as well as selling compatible items individually.
However, it doesn't make the prices for these packages (or even the individual items) public – you'll have to head to the company directly for a quote.
To find out more about Lightspeed's hardware, click here.
Lightspeed POS Pricing vs Competitors
Lightspeed, much to its chagrin we're sure, isn't the only POS company out there. In fact, the market is awash with POS companies claiming to offer you the best option for less.
So how does Lightspeed compare? It's a bit more expensive than some of its competitors, sure, but its quality of features and UI still make it a strong choice.
Price from
The typical lowest starting price. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs.
|
Transaction fees |
24/7 support | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Lightspeed | Shopify POS | Vend POS | Square POS | |
$29/month | $99/month | Free (but transaction fees apply) | ||
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| No transaction fees |
| |
Lightspeed POS: Core Features
Sales
Lightspeed POS users can create or search for a customer profile, before inputting the items they're buying or simply scanning them with a barcode scanner. Once ready, the employee can ring up the order for credit, debit, check, cash, PayPal, or a combination. Then the staffer can either print or email the receipt.
Customers
Customers can be tracked via Lightspeed's suite of CRM tools, allowing stores to give individual customers status like “VIP” or “regular” and to create email lists for targeted marketing campaigns. Their sales history allows managers to make smart decisions about which items are most popular, or which future purchases to suggest to a specific customer. Support for a customer loyalty or gift card program is also available.
Inventory
Items can be quickly imported from a CSV or Excel file, and users can add additional style, size, and color specifications to each item. In addition, pre-loaded catalogs available on the Lightspeed POS allow users to restock their inventory directly from the system. Inventory can also be checked from the mobile app while on the go.
Ecommerce Integrations
A single store inventory can be sold both in-person and through an online storefront, for a consistent brand experience. Customer data can be tracked across both channels as well, giving managers an accurate picture of their shopping habits. Websites can be set up easily through Lightspeed, thanks to the ready-made templates on offer. Integrations make selling directly through Facebook possible as well.
Lightspeed and WooCommerce Integration
Lightspeed has strong integration with ecommerce platform WooCommerce. It costs $149 per year to integrate the services but, in return, you'll have a seamlessly linked online store (through WooCommerce) and point of sale system (through Lightspeed).
Your inventory and sales will be automatically tracked, meaning that operating your online and offline businesses far easier. Plus, it will make your business more defensible in the face of potential restrictions on in-person sales.




Lightspeed retail POS
Reports
Data about customer and employee habits can be tracked and logged. This means that trends will appear in the data over time, allowing managers to make intelligent decisions, with specific insights on factors including which employees clock in and out on time, which customers buy the most, and which items sell best on which day of the week. Accounting data can be automatically processed with integrations available from Lightspeed, and all reports can be exported to PDF or Excel.
Restaurant POS
Lightspeed's restaurant POS offers a broad range of restaurant-specific tools, from an inventory that tracks individual ingredients, to a floor plan that lets servers locate the right customer at the right time, to a customizable menu that incorporates photos as well as descriptions. Table-side service is a highlight: With Lightspeed Restaurant, servers can take orders and send them to the kitchen while standing at the customer's table.
Video: How to Make a Sale in Lightspeed Retail




Lightspeed restaurant POS
Lightspeed Hardware
You don't need to invest in one of Lightspeed's hardware packages to use the system – you'll be able to get by with only an iPad, MacOS device, or a Windows PC.
However, Lightspeed does offer a range of products that can make your life (and your customers' lives) so much easier.
For example, its iPad hardware kit includes a LAN receipt printer (and paper), cash drawer, Bluetooth scanner, and branded iPad stand. Meanwhile, the desktop hardware kit includes a USB receipt printer, cash drawer, and USB scanner.
Find out more – Best iPad POS Apps 2021
Sadly, Lightspeed doesn't make its prices for these packages available publicly – you'll have to head to the company directly for a quote.
If you have existing hardware, there's a chance that it might work with Lightspeed. However, the company doesn't guarantee anything.




Lightspeed POS hardware bundles
Setup and Customer Support
Lightspeed offers 24/7 live support via phone, email and live chat — a trifecta of customer service options that's hard to beat, and which only a handful of other POS vendors come close to. Lightspeed also includes live onboarding sessions for new clients to help them get started.
In addition, webinars can walk users through the Lightspeed interface, while a customer forum allows users to ask and answer questions as a community. The company's YouTube channels include video tutorials as well.
Support & Training
Support options
- Phone
- Live chat
Training options
- Community forum
- Webinars
- Online videos
Tech.co Rating
Score out of 5 based on Tech.co's independent market research.
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Price from
The typical lowest starting price. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs.
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Transaction fees |
iPad app
Is there a version of the software made specifically for iPad use?
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Android app
Is there a version of the software made specifically for Android tablet use?
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24/7 support |
Hardware |
Tech.co verdict | ||
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Lightspeed | Shopify POS | Vend POS | Square POS | ||||||
5.0
| 5.0
| 5.0
| 5.0
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$29/month | $99/month | Free (but transaction fees apply) | |||||||
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| No transaction fees |
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Sold by Lightspeed, available separately or packaged with software. Works with most leading brands. | Sold by Shopify, but also works with iPads and Android tablets | Works with loads of third-party periperals | Sold by Square, available separately or packaged with software. Works with most leading brands and has a great free trial. | ||||||
A trustworthy choice to strengthen your business | A great all-round POS solution that excels for online stores | A super flexible service which will work for almost any business | A brilliant POS system for any type of business |
Lightspeed is a mite more expensive than its competitors, but it's still an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses.
Verdict: Lightspeed POS
Lightspeed's pricing might be a little above the norm, but its strong feature set and unparalleled ease of use more than atone for it.
It would make a fantastic choice for a business of any size that needs a new POS, though its helpful hardware bundles and easy third-party integrations make it particularly well-suited to fast-growing companies.
To make sure Lightspeed POS is the best fit for your business, why not try it out, free for 14 days. You'll be under no obligation to stick with it if it doesn't work for you, but we think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Lightspeed FAQs
Let's take a look at the internet's most widely asked questions about Lightspeed.
Most businesses will likely need the Standard plan, which costs $119 per month when billed annually.
Once set up, Lightspeed syncs with QuickBooks every night to make sure that your accounts are always up to date.
Of course, Shopify does offer its own POS platform as well.
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